Manorial documents are an under-used source for local history. They offer a wealth of information about farming practices, village customs, inheritance, crime and local government, essential to understanding past communities. This comprehensive guide to post medieval manors details how they were managed and presents illustrated examples of administrative documents - custumals, accounts, surveys and maps - as well as the court rolls and books that record the court in session. It includes case studies of how they may be used, a bibliography and a glossary.